Chapter 76
POV: Adam
Sam parks the car with a skid about a block away from our destination, maneuvering it with precision until it's perfectly aligned.
We both step out simultaneously, stern and hurried. I pull up the sleeve of my shirt, as if that somehow boosts my confidence. As we approach the long-abandoned warehouse, the trees provide cover, allowing us to catch sight of some men around the area, revealing that Madison orchestrated this to waste our time and play her game.
"You'll need to disarm the bomb. How much time do we have?" I ask, focused, my hands trembling with nervousness.
"Just five minutes," he replies, feeling the pressure of time building up.
"Sam, you need to provoke them and start a fight to distract them. I'll handle this on my own while you take advantage of the chaos to rescue her."
"I can't do that. You're the only one of us who knows how to defuse the situation. I remember vividly when you won that bomb defusal competition at school. You were the best, as you always are at everything. So, it's you who needs to save the girl."
"Contrary to what you think, Sam, and what everyone may have led you to believe, I'm terrible at many things. I can't fight, I don't think as quickly as you, I don't know how to break windows or break into places, and I'm not even good at soccer, where I only joined to try to outshine you. I spent nights training just to try to catch up to you, and in the end, you were unreachable. I struggled for hours to learn how to defuse that bomb just because I overheard a teacher talking about it and was desperate to seem smarter than you. Maybe deep down, I envied you too, but it's time to admit that you're better than me at many things, Sam. I know you'll learn how to defuse this in a matter of seconds because Mia needs you, I need you, and I don't know what I'll do without her," I say, looking at Sam in the end.
"Are you finally admitting that I'm better than you?" He looks at me with a satisfied smile on his face, but there's something deeper in it. I can see how much my words mean to him, how much people have undervalued him for a long time.
"Yes, I am," I smile back.
"Alright, you're good at some things too, but I still hate you with all my might, Adam Davis. Now, how do I disarm the bomb?"
"The order of the wires starts with the top one. If there are no red wires, you should cut the second wire. Otherwise, if the last wire is white, cut the last wire. Otherwise, if there are more than one blue wire, cut the last blue wire," I instruct, repeating the directions once more.
Sam and I advance cautiously through the bushes, knowing we're entering uncharted territory. As we near the warehouse, the grass under our feet becomes increasingly damp, and small insects scuttle around us. Sam conceals the gun under his shirt, ready to face any challenge, when a slightly larger animal rushes by, rustling the leaves and drawing one of the men's attention.
"Who's there?" one of the men shouts, pointing his gun in our direction.
"It's me," Sam replies loudly enough to be heard, emerging from the bushes. The man keeps his gun raised but visibly relaxes upon recognizing Sam.
"The boss isn't here."
"Actually, I've been thinking and got curious about what you guys are hiding here. Why don't you show me the place?" Sam suggests with a sarcastic and fearless smile on his lips.
"I don't have permission."
"I thought you were working for me." Sam taunts even more, unafraid of the consequences. "I think it's time we play together." He smiles, looking at me, and I reciprocate, finally stepping out of the bushes and capturing the attention of the man. Sam acts swiftly, delivering a precise kick to the man's weapon, causing it to fall to the ground. He then pushes the gun in my direction while dodging a punch from the man. The assailant retaliates, but Sam skillfully evades, while I secure the gun to my waist as quickly as possible, watching another guard approach, unarmed this time, as he was distracted from his own duty when everything started.
I turn quickly, trying to avoid the punch, but I can't completely dodge the impact. I feel the throbbing pain in my face, but I maintain my determination. Sam advances, taking advantage of the opening I created, and with a well-placed blow, he knocks the man he was fighting down. I look at Sam, nodding my head and indicating that it's his turn to go in.
Now, it's my turn to repay. With a quick movement, I deliver a precise blow to the man in front of me, making him stagger momentarily. However, he quickly recovers and charges at me with renewed fury.
Meanwhile, the third man is getting closer, ready to intervene at any moment. Adrenaline courses through my body as I try to focus on the fight in front of me, aware that time is running out.
The throbbing pain in my face is intense, but I can't afford to falter. As the third man approaches, his expression determined, the man in front of me lunges at me with everything he has. But this time, with a quick and calculated move, I dodge his attack and manage to punch him. He staggers backward, momentarily disoriented, and I seize the opportunity to strike him once and for all with a combination of rapid and precise blows, managing to push him back temporarily, giving myself some breathing room, until the third man has a gun pointed at me. Mia's image flashes in my mind; I couldn't fail, not now, not while she was there.
I surrender, turning my back to the man, and slowly lower my head, placing my hands near my neck. The security guard advances, confident in his imminent victory. However, at the exact moment he gets close enough, my agile arms move, hitting his hand and consequently the gun handle that falls.
The instant he tries to hit me, I step away from his body, pulling the pistol from my waist and firing at his shoulder, thanks to my poor aim.
A cry of pain echoes there. The security guard falls to his knees, clutching his wounded arm, unable to continue his threat. My eyes meet his for a moment, until I punch him once more, making sure he can't get up. As I finish, the timer shows 30 seconds.